Cable-assembly for robotic installation

Abstract

A cable-retaining-device is configured to use with a robotic actuator. The cable-retaining-device includes a generally cylindrically shaped body defining a longitudinal-axis. A mesial-portion of the body defines a passage configured to receive a cable extending longitudinally along an entire length of the body. A distal-portion of the body defines a slot extending radially about the longitudinal-axis. The cable-retaining-device also includes a cable-retaining-band disposed within the slot and radially encircling the cable-retaining-device.

We claim: 
     
       1. A cable-retaining-device configured to use with a robotic actuator, comprising:
 a generally cylindrically shaped body defining a longitudinal-axis, wherein a mesial-portion of the body defines a passage configured to receive a cable extending longitudinally along an entire length of the body, wherein a distal-portion of the body defines a slot extending radially about the longitudinal-axis; and 
 a cable-retaining-band disposed within the slot configured to radially encircle the cable-retaining-device, wherein the cable-retaining-band is a cable-tie having a head and an elongate tail extending therefrom, said head configured to receive a portion of the tail, wherein the head is integral to the body. 
 
     
     
       2. The cable-retaining-device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the passage is characterized as a U-shaped channel extending from the exterior-surface. 
     
     
       3. The cable-retaining-device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first-flange radially extending from a first-end of the body and a second-flange radially extending from a second-end of the body, wherein said first-flange and said second-flange extend beyond an exterior-surface of the body by a distance of at least 1.0 millimeters. 
     
     
       4. A cable-assembly, comprising:
 a cable; and 
 the cable-retaining-device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cable is received within the passage and wherein the cable-retaining-band encircles the cable-retaining-device. 
 
     
     
       5. A cable-retaining-device configured to use with a robotic actuator, comprising:
 a generally cylindrically shaped body defining a longitudinal-axis, wherein a mesial-portion of the body defines a passage configured to receive a cable extending longitudinally along an entire length of the body, wherein a distal-portion of the body defines a slot extending radially about the longitudinal-axis; and 
 a cable-retaining-band disposed within the slot configured to radially encircle the cable-retaining-device, wherein the body includes a plurality of ridges extending generally parallel to the longitudinal-axis along an exterior-surface of the body. 
 
     
     
       6. The cable-retaining-device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of ridges extend beyond the exterior-surface for a distance of at least 0.5 millimeters. 
     
     
       7. A cable-retaining-device configured to use with a robotic actuator, comprising:
 a generally cylindrically shaped body defining a longitudinal-axis, wherein a mesial-portion of the body defines a passage configured to receive a cable extending longitudinally along an entire length of the body, wherein a distal-portion of the body defines a slot extending radially about the longitudinal-axis; and 
 a cable-retaining-band disposed within the slot configured to radially encircle the cable-retaining-device, wherein the body has a lower-shell, a first-upper-shell attached to the lower-shell by a first-hinge, and a second-upper-shell attached to the lower-shell by a second-hinge, wherein the lower-shell defines a first-portion of the passage and both the first-upper-shell and the second-upper-shell define a second-portion of the passage. 
 
     
     
       8. The cable-retaining-device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the cable-retaining-band is a cable-tie having a head and an elongate tail extending therefrom, said head configured to receive a portion of the tail, wherein the head is integral to the body. 
     
     
       9. The cable-retaining-device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the slot extends from an exterior-surface of the body to the passage. 
     
     
       10. The cable-retaining-device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein both the first-upper-shell and the second-upper-shell include locking-tabs that engage corresponding locking-ramps located on the lower-shell opposite both the first-hinge and the second-hinge. 
     
     
       11. A cable-retaining-device configured to use with a robotic actuator, comprising:
 a generally cylindrically shaped body defining a longitudinal-axis, wherein a mesial-portion of the body defines a passage configured to receive a cable extending longitudinally along an entire length of the body, wherein a distal-portion of the body defines a slot extending radially about the longitudinal-axis; and 
 a cable-retaining-band disposed within the slot configured to radially encircle the cable-retaining-device, wherein the body includes a plurality of rectangular facets on an exterior-surface and wherein a major axis of each rectangular facet is generally parallel to the longitudinal-axis.